Friday, July 3 – Seminar Day

Any agenda changes made after Braille and print production can be accessed on the NFB26 app or at nfb.org/convention. Changes will be marked with an asterisk (*).

7:15–8:00 a.m. Amateur Radio Group: Emergency Preparedness

Room 403

Discuss convention frequencies, hotel architectural features, and distribution of special FM receivers for our hard-of-hearing and Spanish-speaking attendees.

David Chan, Chair

7:30–8:45 a.m. NOPBC Youth Track: Registration

Salon F (level 3)

Be sure you take a moment to register your youth ages 11-18 for the NOPBC Youth Track. There is no cost to attend.

7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. National Organization of Parents of Blind Children Division Annual Seminar

For more details, visit nopbc.org. Salon F is on level 3. Sponsored by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children Division (NOPBC). Cassandra McKinney, President

7:30–8:45 a.m. – Registration (Salon F)

7:30–8:45 a.m. – NOPBC Exhibitor Expo

Check out the latest products and services. (Room 303)

9:00–10:30 a.m. – NOPBC Opening Session

Hear from Federation and NOPBC leaders, including President Riccobono. Families are encouraged to attend together. (Salon F)

10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Concurrent Workshops Group A

  • Getting Started with Braille Instruction and Braille Code Basics (Salon F)
  • It’s Not Just Blindness: Strategies for Complex Learners (Room 304)
  • Transitioning from IEP to College (Room 305)
  • Meet the IEP Advocates (Room 307)

12:00–1:45 p.m. – NOPBC Exhibitor Expo

Check out the latest products and services. (Room 303)

1:45–3:00 p.m. – Concurrent Workshops Group B

  • Library Resources (Salon F)
  • Different Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Techniques (Room 304)
  • Self-Care, Safe Touching, and Body Awareness (Room 305)
  • Blind Role Models and Blind Professionals (Room 307)

3:15–4:30 p.m. – Concurrent Workshops Group C

  • Little Movers, Big World (Salon F)
  • Skills, Chores, and Getting Outdoors (Room 304)
  • Creating an Inclusive Home Environment and Practicing Self-Compassion as a Parent (Room 305)
  • Put Technology to Work for Your Family (Room 307)

7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. National Blindness Professional Certification Board: Twenty-Five Years of Excellence and Empowerment for the Blind

Salon C (level 3)

Join us for twenty-five years of the National Blindness Professional Certification Board and Structured Discovery. Learn updated best practices from Structured Discovery professionals at the only annual conference on Structured Discovery teaching for the blind. Register at nbpcb.org. Registration is 100 dollars before June 15 and 115 dollars afterwards. There will also be in-person registration.

Joni Martinez, Conference Chair, National Blindness Professional Certification Board

8:00–9:00 a.m. Ambassadors Committee

Salons 5 and 6 (level 4)

Volunteer to be a talking sign! If giving directions, answering questions, and welcoming people to convention are activities that appeal to you, come join us. We will use this time to assign times and locations.

Corbb O’Connor and Dan Burke, Co-Chairs

8:00–11:00 a.m. ABLE Accounts: What You Need to Know

Room 205

Join us to learn about ABLE accounts and the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which expands eligibility to millions more people with disabilities. We’ll cover who qualifies, how ABLE accounts work, and key benefits. A Q&A will follow so attendees can ask questions.

Anna Mallett, Outreach Specialist, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

8:30 a.m. NFB Camp

Room 211

Preregistration by June 15 is required. After that, it will be on a “space available" basis. For further information, see Resources and Reminders.

8:30–11:30 a.m. The AI Landscape: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Accessibility

Salons G and H (level 3)

A practical overview of major AI changes affecting blind users, comparing ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for strengths, limits, and accessible real-world uses, plus trends and new features reshaping productivity, information access, and everyday tech.

Charles Hiser and Ron Miller, Accessibility Excellence Advocates, and Jonathan Mosen, Executive Director for Accessibility Excellence, National Federation of the Blind

9:00–10:45 a.m. NOPBC Youth Track Session (ages 11-18)

Room 306

Games and Prizes. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. On-Site Registration (30 dollars), Online Registration Packet Pickup, and Banquet Ticket Sales (90 dollars)

JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (level 4)

9:30–11:30 a.m. NCD 2027 Policy Projects and Town Hall

Salon B (level 3)

The National Council on Disability, the federal agency and advisor to the president, Congress, and federal agencies, will examine issues impacting people with disabilities. Learn about the latest topics NCD selected for 2027 and share your experiences in a town hall.

9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Support-Service-Provider Training

Room 207

Would you like to learn how to empower DeafBlind convention attendees? Join the DeafBlind Division for a facilitated training session on best practices for supporting DeafBlind members in navigating convention.

Rocky Hart, President

10:00–11:00 a.m. Updates from Monarch and More with APH

Rooms 201 and 202

Join us for demonstrations of upcoming products, Monarch version 1.5, and more. See revolutionary tech at work and be the first to hear about the newest product developments and improvements. Bring your questions, enthusiasm, and curiosity!

Greg Stilson, VP of Digital Transformation; Jennifer Wenzel and Michael Dennis, Technology Product Specialists; and Jason Martin, Technical Innovations Product Manager, American Printing House for the Blind

10:00–11:00 a.m. Target: Accessible to All

Rooms 203 and 204

Join members of Target’s digital accessibility team to learn what’s new at the Bullseye. Bring your questions and share your feedback about Target’s digital experiences. This will be an interactive, conversational session.

Steve Decker, Sr. Manager Accessibility, Target

10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Employment Committee Meeting

Room 302

Join the annual meeting of the NFB Employment Committee. Learn about what we’ve been working on for the last year and what's in store for the year ahead.

Lia Stone, Chair

10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. LGBT+: A Mid-Year Review

Room 301

Join the NFB’s LGBT+ group to join in community and discuss current events, relevant civil rights laws, advocacy efforts, and enforcement opportunities for people of all backgrounds. Allies welcome, members centered.

Sanho Steele-Louchart, Chair

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. EZRE: Receipts Built for Us, By Us

Room 401

Join EZRE founder Alberto Destarac for a live demo of the first app that delivers itemized digital receipts to your phone the moment you pay—no scanning, no asking for help at checkout. Hear it work with VoiceOver and TalkBack. Q&A, hands-on testing, and feedback welcome.

Alberto Destarac, Founder and CTO, and Andrew Gundersen, EZRE

11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track Session (ages 11-18)

Room 306

Introduction to your National Federation of the Blind Convention and Youth Track Activities. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.

11:00 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Sixth Annual Blind Muslims Group Seminar

Room 403

Diverse in Culture, United in Faith: Our Struggle in Finding Our Space in the Sighted World. Learn about our group and involvement, and for a discussion on the intersection of faith, blindness, diversity, and advocacy. Email: [email protected]. Listserv: [email protected].

Tasnim Alshuli, Chair

1:00–2:00 p.m. Islamic Friday Prayer

Room 308

The Islamic Friday prayer service will be offered for all Muslims. Non-Muslims are also welcome to attend.

1:00–4:00 p.m. What’s New at HumanWare

Rooms 203 and 204

Join the HumanWare team for an upbeat session! Discover the BrailleNote Evolve—a Windows 11 computer in a compact Braille device powered by KeySoft and NVDA. Explore the latest VictorReader Stream updates, various Braille displays, and the new Meta smart glasses.

Andrew Flattres, Rachel Ramos, and Joel Zimba, HumanWare

1:00–4:00 p.m. Committee for Advancement and Promotion of Braille

Room 504

The committee will discuss Braille-related resources and activities across our organization, developments in the teaching and delivery of Braille, research priorities, Braille-related policy, and strategies for bringing improvements where needed. All are welcome!

Jennifer Dunnam, Chair

1:00–5:00 p.m. Paws with a Purpose

Room 205

Come fetch the latest in the guide-dog community! Join NAGDU for expert panels, advocacy news, and updates from training schools. Don’t miss out—your voice matters!

  • 1:00–2:00 p.m. Registration and Networking
  • 2:00–5:00 p.m. Seminar

Stacie Gallegos, Paul Sandoval, and Robert Stigile, NAGDU Seminar Planning Committee

1:00–6:00 p.m. Drop-In Art Room

Salon A (level 3)

Free tactile art activities for everyone! Join the Tactile Art Collective and make art with us. Draw, sculpt, color pictures, fold origami, code SVG, build with LEGOs, and solve puzzles. Don’t know how? We are here to teach. Learn about flip-pics, pop-ups, and maps. Come to have fun!

Ann Cunningham, Coordinator

1:00–6:00 p.m. Everyone Plays: Sports & Rec Fair

Salon E (level 3)

Learn how the blind community moves, competes, and dominates in sports and fitness—this is inclusive recreation redefined.

Richie Flores, President, National Federation of the Blind Sports and Recreation Division

1:30–3:30 p.m. NCD 2027 Policy Projects and Town Hall

Salon B (level 3)

The National Council on Disability, federal agency and advisor to the president, Congress, and federal agencies, will examine issues impacting people with disabilities. Learn about the latest topics NCD selected for 2027 and share your experiences in a town hall.

1:30–4:00 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track Session (ages 11-18)

Room 306

Tactile Art and More. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.

1:30–5:00 p.m. Medicare and You: Making the Right Choice

Room 403

Making a decision about the Medicare coverage that is best for you can be difficult. Join us for a discussion about how to make the right choice and how to make a change if your current plan isn’t working for you. Presented by the NFB Seniors Division.

Glenn Crosby, President

2:00–3:00 p.m. Advocating for Access – On-Demand Transit

Room 401

Transit agencies are expanding rideshare partnerships, microtransit, and other on-demand services, and accessibility can vary widely. This workshop will explain how several key service decisions can impact service accessibility and effectiveness for people who are blind.

Ron Brooks, Senior Director, Policy and Partnership, UZURV

2:00–3:30 p.m. Building Technology Confidence

Salons G and H (level 3)

Learn to pick tech that fits your needs and learning style. Use AI for structured exploration, troubleshooting, and step-by-step learning. Build lasting confidence through experimenting, making mistakes, and solving problems instead of avoiding failure.

Charles Hiser and Ron Miller, Accessibility Excellence Advocates, and Jonathan Mosen, Executive Director for Accessibility Excellence, National Federation of the Blind

4:00–5:00 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track Session (ages 11-18)

Room 306

Career Mentoring Fair. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.

4:00–5:00 p.m. Inside the Next Generation of Be My Eyes

Rooms 201 and 202

Join Be My Eyes for a whirlwind tour of the latest features, redesigns, and tools coming to the platform. Experience live demos of agentic call mode, refreshed mobile and desktop interfaces, and more as we showcase what’s new and what’s next.

Danielle Montour Lane, Community Manager, Be My Eyes

5:00–6:30 p.m. NBPCB Rehab Professionals Mix and Mingle

Brazos (level 2)

Come network and speak with rehab professionals following the NBPCB Rehab Conference. Hear about the newest SD-certified professionals and about job opportunities across the nation. Cash bar and light snacks will be available.

National Blindness Professional Certification Board

6:30–9:00 p.m. Technology Exhibitors Showcase

Rooms 203 and 204

Join us to learn about low- to high-tech products, from hardware to software, and more. Hear the latest from our vendors at this session.

Mark Jones, Coordinator

8:00–9:30 p.m. Rookie Roundup

Salons 5 and 6 (level 4)

First-time convention attendees: don’t miss this event! President Riccobono and other Federation leaders, along with members of the Jernigan Fund Committee, will be on hand to welcome you to the convention and preview the week’s activities.

Pam Allen, Chair and First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana; Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind and Tracy Soforenko, Kenneth Jernigan Fund Committee, Chair; President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

8:30–10:30 p.m. Student Networking

Salon E (level 3)

Blind students: kick off your convention right by joining our national student division to mix and mingle. Whether you are new or returning, we can't wait to welcome you!

Lauren Chaya Altman, President

Agenda Navigation

Please use the links below to navigate the agenda pages.